Adjustable false bottom for swimming pools



July 3, 1962 H. c. FOGLE 3,0 ,63

ADJUSTABLE FALSE BOTTOM FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed June 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q\ g Q I E a I I]!!! g o 1 x F I! A 1 a s Q l Q Harry 6. Fog/e I INVENTOR.

Y @Awaaifim July 3, 1962 I H. c. FOGLE 3,041,531

ADJUSTABLE FALSE BOTTOM FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed June 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harry 6. Fog/8,. ,INK'ENTOR.

H. C. FOGLE ADJUSTABLE FALSE BOTTOM FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed June 29, 1960 July 3, 1962 3,041,631

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Harry G. Fog/e 1 N VENTOR.

l) 5 BY WWW 4;

V s LL Filed June 2?, 1960, Set. No. 39,484 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-172) This invention relates to a novel and useful type of swimming pool accessory, and more particularly to a false bottom assembly for a swimming pool having at least one pair of foraminated false bottom members mounted for vertical movement in a swimming pool. The false bottom members are of a shape and size to conform to and to substantially fill the plan area of the interior of the swimming pool. One of the adjustable false bottom members is provided with a partition wall which may or may not be foraminated having one end pivotally se= cured to the edge of that false bottom member adjacent to other false bottom member for movement between a position substantially overlying the associated false bottom member and a position extending substantially Vertically between the false bottom members.

Home swimming pools are becoming increasingly popular each year and a need is arising for preventing accidents around the home-type of swimming pool which is usually not under any supervision of a qualified life guard.

Although some pool owners do not take the precautionary steps of erecting a strong closure about their pool to prevent unauthorized use of the pool, other persons realizing the dangers involved spend considerable amounts in erecting elaborate closures for their pools to prevent serious accidents such as the drowning of persons unauthon'zed to use the pool. The expense of erecting a closure of this type is considerable and in some instances even the most elaborate enclosure has not proven to be adequate for preventing unauthorized use of the pool.

There have been an increased number of drownings by persons having unauthorized use of private swimming pools and in most cases these unauthorized users have broken through or climbed over enclosures designed to prevent unauthorized use of the pool.

Although some pool owners have erected quite elaborate enclosures, some accidents have occurred and the pool owners have been held liable by courts of law for not taking the extra precautionary measures in enclosing and preventing unauthorized and unsupervised use of the pool by children and the like.

The main object of this invention is to provide an adjustable false bottom for swimming pools including at least one pair of bottom members which may be moved between a position directly overlying the bottom of a swimming pool and a position even with or above the normal water level of the pool.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide foraminated false bottom members which may be readily raised from a lowered position without lifting a column of water thereof and creating a partial vacuum the-febeneath.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a false bottom for swimming pools having at least one pair of adjustable false bottom members conforming in size and shape to the pool and having adjacent edges extending from the ice . t 2 side of the poolto the other with a partition wall pivotally secured at its lower end to one of the adjacent edges of the bottom members for movement between a position directly overlying the bottom member to which it is secured and a position extending vertically above and between the pair of adjustable false bottom members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means whereby each of the false bottom members may be individually adjusted vertically relative to the other bottom member.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a swimming pool and a partition wall therefor which will have its opposite side edges closely adjacent the opposite sides of the swimming pool at all times whereby the partition wall will prevent swimmers from passing from one section of the pool on one side of the partition wall to the other section of the pool on the otherside of the partition wall without first climbing out of the pool.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an adjustable false bottom for swimming pools which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to operate so as to provide a device which will be economically feasible, long lasting and not complicated to use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent residein the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pool shell incorporating therein the adjustable false bottom of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the pool shell shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View of the pool shell shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional view showing the manner in which the adjustable bottom members are mounted for adjusted vertical movement relative to the bottom of the pool;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the mechanism used to raise and lower one of the adjustable bottom members;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the construction illustrated in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view illustrating the manner in which the partition wall is pivotally secured to one of the adjustable bottom members.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a swimming pool shell including end walls 12 and opposite side walls 14. It is to be understood that the pool shell 10 may be constructed of any convenient material such as metal, plastic and/ or fiberglass, or that the present invention may be incorporated into an existing pool construction of any conventional material.

Patented July 3, 1962 The pool shell also includes a bottom wall 16 and a the walls 12, 14 and 16 are interconnected at adjoining .edges to define an open topped receptaclefor receiving water.

reference numeral 22 including interconnected longitudinal beams 24 and transverse beams 26. A foraminous bottom member 28 is secured over each of the frames 22 in any convenient manner.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings it will he noted that the frame members 22 together conform to the size and plan outline of the pool shell 10. The frames 22 have adjoining side edges extending between the opposite sides 14 of the pool shell 10 and each of the frames 22 may be individually adjusted in vertical height above the bottom 16 in a manner which is to behereinafter set forth.

A partition wall generally referred to by the reference numeral 28 has fixedly secured along the lower edge of its frame 30 a pivot 'shaft'32 journaled for rotation about.

its longitudinal axis by means of the bearing journals 34 carried by one of the frames 22, see FIGURE 8. The bearing journals 34 are secured to the frame 22in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 36 whereby the lower edge of the frame 30 of the'partition wall 28 is pivotally secured to one of the frames 22 for movement between a position directly overlying that frame 22 and a position extending upwardly between the frames 22. The frame 30 of the partion wall 28 is also provided with a :foraminous panel designated by the reference numeral 38. Thus, the weight of the partition wall 28 is maintained at a minimum and its pivotal movement through a body of water is greatly facilitated.

One end of the pivot shaft 32 has a bevel gear 48.

secured thereto which is meshed with a bevel gear 42 that is slidably disposed on an operating shaft 44. The op erating shaft 44 is vertically disposed and is journaled for rotation by means of a bearing journal 46 carried by' the bottom 16 of the pool shell 10 and an opening 48 formed in the top wall 50 secured to the associated side wall 14.

Each of the frames 22 includes a pair of lifting sleeve assemblies generally referred to by, the reference numeral 52 including an internally threaded sleeve 54 carried by the outer end of amounting lug 56'secured to the side of the frame 22 by means of fasteners 58.

The sleeves 54 each project into a corresponding inwardly opening recess 60 formed in the side walls 14 of termediate shafts 68 are simultaneously and equally rotated and the corresponding screw shafts 64 are equally and simultaneously rotated thereby enabling the associated frame 22 to be adjusted in vertical height relative to the bottom 16 of the pool shell 10 while maintained in parallel relation thereto. Each of the motors 76 is electrically connected to a control switch assembly generally designated by the reference numeral 78 which may be operated to effect the raising and lowering of the associated frame 22. The switch assemblies 78 are each con- 1 nected to a junction box generally referred to by the reference numeral 80 into which current is supplied by means of electrical conductor 82. It is to be understood that the electrical conductor 82 is electrically connected to a suitable source of electricity. I

In operation, with attention directed more particularly to FEGURES 1 and 4 of the drawings, the motors 76 may be individually and selectively actuated to individually raise and lower the frames 22. One frame 22 may be elevated to a position above the other frame as indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The higher frame 22 may be used to provide a shallow portion of the pool shell 10 while the other frame '22 is used to define a deep portion of the pool shell 10. If the pool shell 10 is to be divided into shallow and deep portions, the partition wall 28 is pivoted to an upstanding position upon rotation of the shaft 44 in order to prevent swimmers from moving from one pool section to the other; However, if-the frames 22 are each positioned immediately above the bottom 16 of the pool shell 10, the partition Wall 28 is not needed unless it is still desired to divide the pool into two individual sections, and the partition wall 28 may be pivoted to a position overlying the adjustable bottom member 26 to which it is secured.

The bevel gear 42 is slidably disposed on the shaft 44 and may therefore traverse the length of the shaft 44 as principles of theinvention. Further, since numerous modthe pool shell 10. Each of the recesses is partially en- 7 closed by means ofa pair of resilient flap members 61, see FIGURE 6. Each ofthe recesses has journaled therein by means of bearingjournals 62 a jack screw 64 having a gear 66 secured to its upper end. The jack screws '64 on each side of each of the adjustable bottom members 18 and 20 are interconnected by means of an intermediate shaft 68 journaled for rotating about its longitudinal axis by means of bearing journals 70. The intermediate shaft 68 includes worm gears 71 meshed with the gears 60 on the associated screw jacks 64 whereby the screw jacks 64 on each side of each of the adjustable bottom members 18 and 20 are interconnected for simultaneous and equal rotation.

With attention now directed more particularly to FIG- URE 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that corresponding ends of the intermediate shaft 68 011 opposite sides of each of the adjustable bottoms 18 and 20 are interconnected for equal and simultaneous rotation by means of a pair of gears 72 having an endless chain 74- entrained thereabout. One of the intermediate shafts 68 extends through its associated gear 72 and comprises a part of the output shaft of a motor 76 by which each of the inifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation-shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a swimming pool of the type including a bottom and peripheral upstanding and adjoining side walls defining an area in which to receive water, at least one pair of foraminous false bottom members disposed over adjacent portions of said pool bottom, means mounting said bottom members in said pool for independent adjustable parallel movement in elevation toward and away from said bottom, said bottom members, when horizontally aligned, having closely adjacent edges extending from one side of the pool to the opposite side and immediately adjacent an upstanding plane extending between said adjacent edges and generally paralleling the direction of movement of said bottom members, said bottom members together having a total plan area substantially equal to the plan area of the bottom of said pool, a partition walLmeans pivotally securing said partition wall along one side edge thereof to one of said bottom members along its edge adjacent the other bottom member for movement about an axis extending substantially parallel to said last mentioned edge between positions overlying said one bottom member and projecting upwardly between said bottom members.

2. The combination of claim 1 including actuating means for pivoting said parn'tion wall about its axis of rotation.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the length of 5 said partition wall from said one side edge to the opposite free side edge is at least as great as the normal water depth of said pool.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pivotal securing means includes a pivot shaft journaled for rotation about its longitudinal axis along said edge of said one bottom member adjacent said other bottom member, said one side edge of said partition fixedly secured to said pivot shaft, and actuating means for effecting rotation of said pivot shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson Dec. 9, 19'13 Scroggin Apr. 23, 1918 Meditz Oct. 7, 1930 Myers Nov. 16, 1937 Prudek Mar. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 16, 1935 

